Bellingham road project tied to proposed plaza may have funding

Thursday

Mar 13, 2014 at 12:09 AMMar 13, 2014 at 12:38 PM

By Matt TotaDaily News Staff

BELLINGHAM — A proposal for a new upscale shopping plaza on Hartford Avenue may be back before town officials sooner than many expected, as funding for a state highway project closely tied to the development has been added to the transportation bond bill.The Shoppes at Bellingham has found at least one supporter in the State House. Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, last week announced he had pushed through an amendment to the Senate version of the transportation bond bill that authorizes funds for the roadway improvements at the intersection of Interstate 495 and Rte. 126 on Hartford Avenue.The House and Senate still must enter negotiations on the bill before it's passed and sent to the governor for consideration.The project would relocate the northbound ramp, add a roundabout, and widen the bridge over I-495.In addition to addressing traffic problems that plague the area, the estimated $13.5 million worth of improvements will also allow WS Development to resuscitate its proposal for a sprawling "lifestyle" center — with more than 100 retailers — similar to Legacy Place in Dedham.Moore called the proposal "a significant economic development construction project" promising to "return the state’s investment within one year."Robert Frazier, WS Development’s vice president for development, has said that as soon as he has confirmation that the state Department of Transportation will move forward with the intersection project, he plans to reintroduce the Shoppes to the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board.According to MassDOT, construction on the intersection will commence in 2018. The department did not return a call for comment on Wednesday.Frazier on Wednesday could not be reached for comment.According to Moore, the project is very much on the highway department’s radar. MassDOT has even added it to its capital plan, underscoring its importance.Sean Riley, Moore’s director of External Affairs, said the senator has been "persistent in communicating the economic benefits and significance of the transportation improvements" to MassDOT.About four years ago, Frazier took the Shoppes off the table, preferring to wait for action on the MassDOT project. By that time, though, it had become a contentious issue on the Planning Board, with many residents objecting to the idea of another shopping center — and possibly more traffic — on Hartford Avenue.WS Development has already worked on three other shopping centers in the area.Regarding the Shoppes, the Chestnut Hill developer has remained in talks with the Conservation Commission to hash out problems with stormwater runoff through updates to the project’s design.On that front, the developer cleared a major hurdle last month, as the commission invited it to formally file a stormwater management plan.Matt Tota can be reached at 508-634-7521 or mtota@wickedlocal.com.